<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-28</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001011344</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACKETEER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PKTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188472</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUNDSTROM NEIL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PACKETEER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10201 N. DE ANZA BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CUPERTINO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President, WW Sales</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-28</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>18.95</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14643</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>See footnote</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-10-22</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50250</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>50250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>48.063</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-26</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-01-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-01-29</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>35000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.36</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-01-22</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-01-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>PKTR Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>110000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares held by Neil Sundstrom, as Custodian U/T/M/A FBO Eric John Sundstrom and Lee Roland.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of Packeteer, Inc. common stock held by the trust except to the extent of his and his wife's pecuniary interest therein.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The option is exercisable as follows: (i) 25% of the option shares upon completion of one year of service from the grant date; and (ii) 1/48 of the option shares upon completion of each additional month of service.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Terrie Leivers, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

